Aurelio Voltaire is often described as a modern day renaissance man. He is a singer/ performer, creator of comic books, animation and toys.An internationally touring musician, he is at the forefront of the Gothic, Steampunk and Dark Cabaret genres headlining some of the biggest horror, sci-fi and comic book conventions as well as Gothic and Steampunk festivals for nearly two decades. His music can best be described as a collection of murder ballads, tongue-in-cheek exercises in the macabre, with just enough bawdy songs about Star Trek and Star Wars to keep a convention audience rolling in the aisles. Many know him for his songs "Brains!" and "Land of the Dead" from the Cartoon Network show "The Grim Adventures of Billy And Mandy". Voltaire's live shows, whether solo or with his skeletal orchestra, are full of stories and games. Many describe his shows as sitting around a fire while an old friend regales you with tales, presuming that old friend drinks a liter of rum a night, dates zombie prostitutes and wrestles Krakens.

Professor Shyguy's music can be best described as high energy, chiptune-electro-rocking, 8-bit, epically vocalized, highly danceable, theatrical nerd-pop. Singing 50% about video games and the other 50% is anything from Space/Time to English Language gymnastics. He has just released his 3rd album of original music in the form of a Pop-Opera. His performance consists of singing, playing guitar, keyboards, and sometimes drums. Sometimes three of those things at the same time.

Despite having shared the stage with Raekwon and members of Jurassic 5, The Green Seed are the greatest Southern Hip Hop act you’ve never heard of… Yet.

Though Alabama has carved out a niche in the current Hip Hop omniverse thanks to the likes of Yelawolf and, most notably, G-Side, The Green Seed (emcee’s R-Tist and C.O.M.P.L.E.T. and DJ’s FX and Jeff C.) have been working individually and as a collective for the better part of a decade. The Green Seed’s songs are as diverse and prolific as their output, taking a Native Tounges-ish approach to topics that include the personal, the political, and the nerdy. They like to skate. They like comics. They like to crush it.

Lindze is an international cosplayer and licensed makeup artist/skin care professional, who has been cosplaying for 16 years. She studied fashion design and later esthetics in Atlanta, and has been featured in magazines and sites such as Spin, PlayStation Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Creative Loafing, and Kotaku, among many others. She has also won numerous awards for cosplay, through the years.

Matt was born at an early age, and since then he has been studying Pop Culture and making terrible jokes. Equipped with a Masters in Literature, he travels the land (provided his travels don't make him go anywhere) analyzing movies, books, games, and music. His musings can be found on http://pop-primer.com/

Since 1995 Sean has been playing in coffee shops in Pennsylvania and most recently in Georgia. He has even once played at the Famous Rainbow Room at NBC studios in NYC. Taking styles from Elton John, Billy Joel, Ben Folds, Classical music, and even the likes of Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr., his songs are eclectic and heartfelt. At his shows he often takes requests, and will learn nearly any song presented to him. He also plays weddings, Corporate events, and private functions.

What started in 2014 as a home recording project and a home for lost riffs with hetero life mates Johnathan Player and Richard Shanlever, The Next Appointed Hour was a too many layered burrito of music to be intended as a live band.

Mikki Marvel fell in love with conventions in 2010, and she has been addicted to them ever since. She has served with fangroups like the Carolina Ghostbusters, Pineapple-Shaped Lamps, and the former Carolina D20 Girls. Now the Western NC manager of the FanDames Initiative, Mikki is a strong advocate for promoting community amongst fellow geek women. She works at conventions across the country helping wherever she can as a panelist, volunteer, or otherwise, and cosplays for personal enjoyment in her spare time. She is currently attending UNCC in pursuit of her bachelor's in business. You can find out more about her cosplay and convention going on her facebook page.

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